Synology Active Backup for SaaS review
A free self-hosted option for granular Google Workspace backup and recovery.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Synology Active Backup for SaaS backs up Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 data to Synology NAS devices. It is aimed at businesses that want centralized SaaS data protection without per-account software licensing fees, particularly organizations already operating Synology infrastructure. Coverage includes Google Drive, Gmail, Contacts, and Calendar, along with OneDrive for Business, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams. The product is not open source, and its deployment model is self-hosted rather than cloud-hosted.
The software is license-free, so its pricing model is straightforward: there is no software licensing fee for the backup application. The practical cost consideration is infrastructure, because deployment requires Synology NAS hardware and storage. Backup modes include scheduled, manual, and continuous operation, while configurable retention policies support administrative control over how backup data is kept. Organizations choosing this product should be prepared to provide and manage the required NAS environment rather than expecting a standalone SaaS backup subscription.
Recovery and administration are the product’s strongest functional areas. Granular restoration covers files, email, contacts, calendars, and collaboration items, and a self-service recovery portal lets both administrators and end users recover supported data. Centralized monitoring, notifications, and backup, restoration, and configuration logs add operational visibility. Single instancing and block-level deduplication help manage backup storage, while the published specifications include item-level restore, audit logs, and ransomware protection. Synology customers needing free coverage for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 should find the scope relevant; organizations needing broader SaaS coverage or a non-Synology deployment should choose a different backup product.
Synology Active Backup for SaaS pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free, license-free backup for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
- Continuous, scheduled, or manual backups with configurable retention
- Granular restoration, self-service recovery, logs, and deduplication
- Where it doesn't
- Requires Synology NAS hardware and storage
- Supports only Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
- Self-hosted deployment requires infrastructure management
Synology Active Backup for SaaS fact sheet, pricing and score →
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